Community Outreach

About the Community Outreach Program

The Community Outreach program creates opportunities for citizens to become more actively involved in their government by opening communication between City Council, City staff, and citizens. There are also multiple ways to Connect With Us electronically. We offer e-updates on several topics, social media channels, Engage Plano to share ideas and a very active website.

PlanoTV streams live video on the website as well as replays of recent government meetings. PlanoTV may be found on Time Warner Cable channel 16 (15.101 digital) and Verizon FiOS channels 30 and 31. PlanoTV can also be found on AT&T U-Verse by going to channel 99 and choosing Plano from the drop-down menu. Programs are also available on the City of Plano YouTube channel. The City Council and staff are continually looking for additional opportunities to engage and interact with our citizens and to provide a variety of ways to share thoughts and ideas with each other. Check back regularly for new programs that will be added.

Ways to Get Involved

The Plano Citizens Academy provides an opportunity for citizens to learn about the basic roles and functions of municipal government in an interactive environment. This year-long program provides information about the operation of the council-manager form of government and multiple opportunities for participants to join in on specific programs and activities that occur annually in Plano. Programs begin in the fall of each year and participants attend a monthly in-person session and receive materials and information online as well. Please call 972-941-5800 with questions and watch this video for an overview of the program. Apply to the Citizens Academy.

Meet and Greet City Council and Staff These informal events provide an opportunity for citizens to share specific interests and concerns through one-on-one discussions with City Council and staff. Meetings occur several times a year at different locations throughout the City. They will be advertised on the City website, in area newspapers, at City facilities, PlanoTV, in City of Plano utility bills, and by notification to homeowner association presidents and crime watch area coordinators. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in any or all of these meetings.

The Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR) is designed to provide a forum for the diverse citizens of Plano to develop programs, materials and events encouraging understanding and participation in the government process. This program also increases understanding of the needs and desires of the City’s diverse citizens. General membership is flexible in size and scope so as to accommodate the number of persons who wish to participate and provide ideas to recommend to City Council. Monthly meetings are open to the public. Please call 972-941-7747 for more information.

Plano Town Hall provides multiple ways to participate in public meetings on important topics. Meetings are scheduled several times a year with an informal format that allows for interaction between the Mayor, City Council, City Staff, and citizens. Citizens can attend in person at the Municipal Center or can participate and ask questions by telephone or social media. Town Hall meetings are also streamed live on PlanoTV and over the internet.